Hand weapon holstering systems

ABSTRACT

Holstering systems for hand weapons comprise a track structure provided as a holster for such hand weapons. Each hand weapon may be provided with an adapter complementary with the track structure. The holster may be a standard holster for different types of elongate hand weapons that may have adapters interfacing with such standard holster. Such holsters may have an accommodation for accessories. Security holsters prevent accidental and unauthorized removal of weapons from holsters, such as with the aid of detents, sensors of a hand of a wearer, or other detent deactivators.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This is the National Phase of International Application PCT/US95/09471,filed on Jul. 26, 1995 by Laser Products Corporation, the Assignee ofthe entire interest hereof, as International applicant, and by thesubject inventor.

The subject invention relates to holstering systems for handguns andother hand weapons, including security holsters that prevent accidentaland unauthorized removal of weapons from holsters and that permitweapons with attachments to be holstered.

BACKGROUND

The use of holsters for hand weapons goes back to prehistoric times,when hunters started to use quivers for their arrows. Even the use ofholsters for handguns is almost as old as handguns themselves.

More recent effort have concentrated on the development of securityholsters.

By way of example, the following patents present descriptions of relatedbackground developments.

In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,566, by Robert J. Beletsky, issuedJul. 7, 1992 for Security Holster Thumb-Break, discloses an assembly forreleasably securing a holster safety strap. A dual position thumb breakprevents removal of the pistol unless the open position is selected.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,825, by Richard E. D. Nichols, issued Sep. 29, 1992for Holster with Retention Device, discloses a holster having aretention device for applying pressure to a handgun in the holster toresist inadvertent removal of the handgun. An elongate band preventsremoval of the pistol when force is applied.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,620, by Robert J. Beletsky, issued Apr. 6, 1993 forSecurity Holster Thumb-Break, discloses another assembly for releasablysecuring a holster safety strap, including a thumb break withdirectional release to open the holster.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,238, by Alan Baruch, issued Jun. 1, 1993 for aHolster for a Weapon with Laser Light capable of accommodating a pistolwith attached laser light and including a safety retention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,448, by Randy R. Shoemaker, issued Dec. 14, 1993 fora Front Draw Handgun Holster whose side wall portions are adjustabletoward one another to prevent a handgun from falling from the holsterand from being grabbed by an attacker, and adjustable away from oneanother to release the gun for fast front draw as well as upward removalfrom the holster. The holster is angularly adjustable relative to thewearer's body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,317, by William H. Rogers and NormanE. Clifton, Jr., issued Jan. 4, 1994 for a Handgun Holster with aLockable Trigger Guard Restraint. Such holster has a rigid body portionand two upwardly extending oppositely facing wall members forming achannel therebetween to receive a handgun trigger guard, a pivotable cammember in at least one wall member and locking means engageable with thecam to prevent it from being pivoted and a finger operable member tounlock the locking means. According to that patent, the holsterdisclosed therein preferably is made of a moldable leather/plasticlaminate which is processed to have the unique contours to receive aselected handgun and is not suitable as a holster for any other gunshape.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,559, by Glen Wisser et al., issued Feb. 1, 1994 fora Holster with Frame, and discloses anti-twist plates for resistingunauthorized removal of a handgun from the holster, and a security strapand thumb-break attached to the frame of the holster.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,281, by Richard E. D. Nichols, issued Feb. 8, 1994for a Holster with Trigger Guard Gripping Device having at least oneprojection for extending into the trigger guard of a handgun, and beingmoveable with the gun between a first position in which the projectionis rigidly held in the trigger guard and a second position in which theprojection is only loosely biased into the trigger guard so that it canbe released by simply pulling the handgun away from the gripping device.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,021, by Alvah B. Brown, issued Mar. 7, 1995 for aHandgun Holster and Retention Block Therefor discloses a spring biasedtrigger guard latch that reduces the possibility of unauthorized releaseand that is located under the sheath material of the holster to concealit from view.

Drawbacks of such prior-art proposals include impediment of fast drawsof handguns through the presence of thumb breaks or other safety devicesthat need to be actuated by the legitimate user of the weapon, need ofextensive training for intended users in the case of complex holsteringsystems, and lack of accommodation of accessories without provision ofspecial holster pockets therefor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From a first aspect thereof, the invention resides in a method ofholstering an elongate hand weapon and, more specifically, resides inthe improvement comprising, in combination, making a track structure,forming that track structure as a holstering device for the elongatehand weapon, and equipping the elongate hand weapon with an adapterequipping complementary with the track structure for holstering thatadaptor in that track structure while holstering the elongate handweapon in the holstering device and making that adapter integral withthat elongate hand weapon as distinguished from the holstering device,so that that adapter is removed with that elongate hand weapon from theholstering device when that hand weapon is drawn from that holsteringdevice, and equipping the holstering device and the adapter with adetent releasably retaining that adapter at the track structure.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in a method ofholstering an elongate hand weapon in a holstering device having a trackstructure and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising,equipping the elongate hand weapon with an adapter complementary withthe track structure for holstering the an adapter in that trackstructure while holstering the elongate hand weapon in the holsteringdevice and making that adapter integral with that elongate hand weaponas distinguished from the holstering device, so that that adapter isremoved with that elongate hand weapon from the holstering device whenthat hand weapon is drawn from that holstering device, and equipping theholstering device and the adapter with a detent releasably retainingthat adapter at the track structure.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in a method ofholstering an elongate hand weapon having an adapter for holstering thatelongate hand weapon in a holstering device and having an accessoryexteriorily attached to and part of the hand weapon, and, morespecifically, resides in the improvement comprising, in combination,equipping the holstering device with a track structure complementarywith the adapter for holstering that slide structure in that trackstructure while holstering the elongate hand weapon in the holsteringdevice; the adapter being integral with that elongate hand weapon asdistinguished from the holstering device, so that that adapter isremoved with that elongate hand weapon from the holstering device whenthat hand weapon is drawn from that holstering device, and equipping theholstering device with an accommodation for the accessory.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in a method ofholstering any one of a number of different types of elongate handweapons and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising,in combination, making a standard holstering device for the differenttypes of elongate hand weapons, and equipping each of the differenttypes of elongate hand weapons with an adapter interfacing with thestandard holstering device for the different types of elongate handweapons, making each adapter integral with that elongate hand weapon asdistinguished from the holstering device, so that that adapter isremoved with that elongate hand weapon from the holstering device whenthat hand weapon is drawn from that holstering device, and equipping thestandard holstering device and each adapter with a detent releasablyretaining each adapter.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in a method ofholstering an elongate hand weapon and, more specifically, resides inthe improvement comprising, in combination, making a holstering device,holstering the hand weapon in the holstering device, equipping theelongate hand weapon and the holstering device with a normallydeactivated detent for selectively retaining said hand weapon in thatholstering device, drawing the hand weapon from the holstering devicewith a hand having an outstretched finger, and blocking removal of thehand weapon from the holstering device upon attempts to remove the handweapon from the holstering device without the hand having theoutstretched finger substantially parallel to the elongate hand weaponby activating the detent only upon attempts to remove the hand weaponfrom the holstering device without the hand having the outstretchedfinger substantially parallel to the elongate hand weapon.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in apparatus forholstering an elongate hand weapon and, more specifically, resides inthe improvement comprising, in combination, a track structure, aholstering device for the elongate hand weapon including that trackstructure, and a adapter for the elongate hand weapon complementary withthat track structure and removable with the elongate hand weapon fromthe holstering device, such adapter being integral with the elongatehand weapon as distinguished from the holstering device, so that suchadapter is removed with the elongate hand weapon from the holsteringdevice when that hand weapon is drawn from that holstering device. Thisapparatus includes a detent adapted to releasably retain the adapter atthe track structure until a wearer of the holstered hand weapon pullssuch hand weapon from the holstering device.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in apparatus forholstering an elongate hand weapon in a holstering device including atrack structure and, more specifically, resides in the improvementcomprising an adapter for the elongate hand weapon complementary withthe track structure and removable with the elongate hand weapon from theholstering device, such adapter being integral with the elongate handweapon as distinguished from the holstering device, so that such adapteris removed with the elongate hand weapon from the holstering device whenthat hand weapon is drawn from the holstering device. This apparatusincludes a detent adapted to releasably retain the adapter at the trackstructure until a wearer of the holstered hand weapon pulls the handweapon from the holstering device.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in apparatus forholstering an elongate hand weapon having structure for the elongatehand weapon and, more specifically, resides in the improvementcomprising, in combination, a track structure complementary with theadapter, and a holstering device for the elongate hand weapon includingthat track structure; the slide structure being removable with theelongate weapon from the holstering device, that slide structure beingintegral with that elongate hand weapon as distinguished from theholstering device, so that that slide structure is removed with thatelongate hand weapon from the holstering device when that hand weapon isdrawn from that holstering device. The adapter is removable with theelongate hand weapon from the holstering device, and is integral withthe elongate hand weapon as distinguished from the holstering device, sothat such adapter is removed with the elongate hand weapon from theholstering device when the hand weapon is drawn from the holsteringdevice. This apparatus includes a detent adapted to releasably retainthe adapter at the track structure until a wearer of the holstered handweapon pulls such hand weapon from the holstering device.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in apparatus ofholstering any one of a number of different types of elongate handweapons and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising,in combination, a standard holstering device for the different types ofelongate hand weapons, and for each of the different types of elongatehand weapons an adapter interfacing with the standard holstering devicefor the different types of elongate hand weapons and removable with theelongate hand weapon from the holstering device, each adapter beingintegral with a corresponding elongate hand weapon as distinguished fromthe holstering device, so that that adapter is removed with thatelongate hand weapon from that holstering device when that hand weaponis drawn from that holstering device. This apparatus includes a trackstructure in the standard holstering device with each adapter beingcomplementary with that track structure in that standard holsteringdevice. This apparatus further includes a detent adapted to releasablyretain the adapter at the track structure until a wearer of theholstered hand weapon pulls the hand weapon from the holstering device.

From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in apparatus forholstering an elongate hand weapon and, more specifically, resides inthe improvement comprising, in combination, a holstering device for thehand weapon, and a normally deactivated detent adapted to block removalof the hand weapon from the holstering device by selectively retainingsaid hand weapon in the holstering device, and a detent activatoradapted to activate the detent only upon attempts to remove the handweapon from the holstering device without a hand having a fingeroutstretched substantially parallel to the elongate hand weapon.

From yet another aspect thereof, the invention resides in a method ofholstering an elongate hand weapon in a holstering device having a trackstructure, and, more specifically, resides in the improvementcomprising, in combination, equipping that elongate hand weapon with aslide structure complementary with the track structure for holsteringsuch slide structure in that track structure while holstering theelongate hand weapon in the holstering device, making the slidestructure integral with the elongate hand weapon as distinguished fromthe holstering device, so that the slide structure is removed with theelongate hand weapon from the holstering device when that hand weapon isdrawn from the holstering device, equipping the holstering device andthe slide structure with a detent for releasably retaining that slidestructure at the track structure against removal of the holstered handweapon from the holstering device; that detent being deactivated as longas the hand weapon is in the holstering device, that detent remainingdeactivated by presence of part of a hand of a wearer drawing the handweapon from the holstering device, and the detent becoming activated forretaining the hand weapon in the holstering device upon attempts toremove that hand weapon from the holstering device in the absence of thementioned part of a hand of a wearer drawing that hand weapon.

From a related aspect thereof, the invention resides in apparatus forholstering an elongate hand weapon in a holstering device including atrack structure, and, more specifically, resides in the improvementcomprising, in combination, a slide structure for that elongate handweapon complementary with the track structure and removable with thatelongate hand weapon from the holstering device; that slide structurebeing integral with the elongate hand weapon as distinguished from theholstering device, so that such slide structure is removed with theelongate hand weapon from the holstering device when that hand weapon isdrawn from that holstering device, a detent adapted to releasably retainthe slide structure at the track structure against removal of theholstered hand weapon from the holstering device, a first detentdeactivator adapted to deactivate the detent as long as the hand weaponis in the holstering device, a second detent deactivator adapted todeactivate the detent in response to a presence of part of a hand of awearer drawing the hand weapon from the holstering device, and a detentactivator adapted to activate the detent for retaining the hand weaponin the holstering device upon attempts to remove that hand weapon fromthat holstering device in the absence of the mentioned part of a hand ofa wearer drawing that hand weapon.

From a related aspect thereof, the invention resides in apparatus forholstering an elongate hand weapon in a holstering device including atrack structure, and, more specifically, resides in the improvementcomprising, in combination, a slide structure for that elongate handweapon complementary with the track structure and removable with thatelongate hand weapon from the holstering device; that slide structurebeing integral with the elongate hand weapon as distinguished from theholstering device, so that such slide structure is removed with theelongate hand weapon from the holstering device when that hand weapon isdrawn from that holstering device; that holstering device including anangularly moveable portion and a relatively stationary portion; thetrack structure being on that angularly moveable portion, and a detenton the relatively stationary portion being positioned to engage theslide structure when the hand weapon is in the holstering device priorto angular movement of the angularly moveable portion relative to thestationary portion.

No recitation in any description herein or claim hereof is intended tobe limited to any recited sequence of steps, features or other elements.

Recitation of any combination of steps, features or elements in anypreamble of any claim hereof is not intended as a representation orconcession that such combination is prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject invention and its various aspects and objects will becomemore readily apparent from the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawings which also constitute a written description of theinvention, wherein like reference numerals designate like or equivalentparts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand weapon holstering systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1A is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of a detent that may beimplemented in the holstering systems herein disclosed according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken approximately on the line 2--2 in FIG. 1, andtogether with FIGS. 2A to 2C shows a standard holstering device fordifferent types of weapons;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing theholstering structure without the hand weapon, with an edge broken awayfor better visibility of the track structure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hand weapon with holstering adapteraccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a holstering system according to afurther embodiment of the invention, showing the hand weapon half drawnfrom the holster, such as by an assailant;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the holster region of FIG. 5, with parts brokenaway to show a safety mechanism of the holstering structure of FIG. 5 inaction;

FIG. 7 is a detail view similar to FIG. 6, showing the normallyunlatched holstered condition of the hand weapon of FIG. 5, andindicating a normal draw of the hand weapon by the hand of the wearer ofthe holstered hand weapon;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a holstering system according to yetanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the holstering system of FIG. 8; and in adifferent stage of operation.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 8, but turned aroundshowing in dotted outline a rest position of the holstering system andholstered weapon, and showing in solid outline a tilted position ofweapon and holster, ready for a draw of the weapon.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drawings illustrate and show methods and apparatus 10 for holsteringhandguns or other elongate hand weapons 12 according to embodiments ofthe invention. Such methods and apparatus provide or comprise a trackstructure 13 which is provided as a holstering device 14 for theelongate hand weapon 12. In apparatus terms, holstering devices 14 forelongate hand weapons 12 include the track structure 13.

Also according to an embodiment of the invention, such elongate handweapon is provided with or comprises a slide structure or adapter 15which is or is made complementary with the track structure or adapter 13for holstering the slide structure 15 in that track structure, whileholstering the elongate hand weapon 12 in its holstering device 14. Thismay also be expressed by saying that the track structure 13 is or ismade complementary with the slide structure or adapter 15 for holsteringsuch slide structure or adapter 15 in that track structure, whileholstering the elongate hand weapon 12 in its holstering device 14. Inthis respect the drawings, such as FIGS. 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 4 and 8, showthat the slide structure or adapter 15 is integral with the elongatehand weapon 12 as distinguished from the holstering device 14, so thatsuch slide structure is removed with that elongate hand weapon from thatholstering device 14 when that hand weapon is drawn from such holsteringdevice such as seen in FIG. 4 and again in FIG. 7.

Embodiments of the invention extend not only to such combinations, butalso to methods and apparatus for holstering an elongate hand weapon 12in a holstering device 14 having a track structure 13, which reside inthe improvement of providing such elongate hand weapon with a slidestructure or adapter 15 complementary with the track structure oradapter 13 for holstering such slide structure in that track structurewhile holstering the elongate hand weapon in the holstering device 14.

Conversely, embodiments of the invention reside in methods and apparatusfor holstering an elongate hand weapon 12 having a slide structure oradapter 15 for holstering such elongate hand weapon in a holsteringdevice 14, which reside in the improvement of providing such holsteringdevice with a track structure 13 complementary with the slide structureor adapter 15 for holstering that slide structure or adapter in thetrack structure while holstering the elongate hand weapon in theholstering device 14.

Pursuant to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the track structure13 is provided with or includes two tracks 16 and 17 in the holsteringdevice 14, and the slide structure or adapter 15 is provided with orincludes two slides 18 and 19 complementary with those two tracks in theholstering device.

According to a related embodiment of the invention, the track structureor adapter 13 and slide structure 15 are provided as or comprise atongue and groove combination, including a tongue structure, such asshown at 16 and 17, and a groove structure, such as shown at 18 and 19.Within the scope of the invention, such tongue structure, while shown aspart of the track structure 13, could be on the slide structure oradapter 15, while the groove structure or adapter, while shown in suchslide structure, could be in the track structure instead. In thisrespect, the drawings show the slide structure or adapter 15 withlateral tongues 21 and 22, and the track structure with correspondinggrooves 23 and 24. Accordingly, the tongue and groove combination mayinclude a tongue structure, such as shown at 16, 17, 21 or 22, as one ofthe track structure and slide structure or adapter, and a groovestructure, such as shown at 18, 19, 23 or 24, as the other of the trackstructure and slide structure.

For hand weapons having an accessory 25 exteriorly attached or otherwiseexterior to, but part of such hand weapon, the holstering device 14,according to an embodiment of the invention, is provided with anaccommodation for such accessory. Such accommodation may include anelongate opening 26 in the holstering device 14, extending along thetrack structure 13 or the tracks 16 and 17 or the tongues 16 and 17. Byway of example, FIGS. 4 and 5 show a target illumination light or lampas the accessory 25. Other examples include a laser light, such as inthe above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,238 or otherwise, and variousauxiliary gun sights, pepper spray and mace containers, knives orbayonets, high-voltage or stunning devices, etc. etc., all symbolized inFIG. 2 by an attachable accessory part 25. In this respect, FIG. 2 showssuch accessory 25 attached to the slide structure or adapter 15 by adovetail structure 27. Within the scope of the invention, a bayonetsocket or any other mount for an accessory 25 for the hand weapon 12 maybe provided at 27 as part of the hand weapon.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the holstering device 14 isopen along one side thereof, typically the rear side, such as seen at 26in FIGS. 2, 2A to C, and 3.

The overall goal of prior-art effort has been to provide each holsterfor a specific hand weapon. The above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,317typifies such prior-art goal by stating that its holster preferably ismade "to have the unique contours to receive a selected handgun 20 andis not suitable as a holster for any other gun shape."

While holstering devices of the subject invention, indeed, may be madeto receive only a specific hand weapon or handgun, preferred embodimentsof the invention provide methods and apparatus for holstering any one ofa number of different types of elongate hand weapons. Such methodsprovide a standard holstering device for such number of different typesof elongate hand weapons, and provide each of such elongate hand weaponwith an adapter interfacing with such standard holstering device 14 forelongate hand weapons. By way of example, the slide structure 15 mayserve as such adapter.

Where the standard holstering device 14 is provided with or has a trackstructure 13, each adapter is a slide structure 15 complementary withthat track structure in that standard holstering device. By way ofexample, where the track structure 13 is provided with two tracks 16 and17 in the standard holstering device 14, each slide structure or adapter15 is provided with two slides 18 and 19 complementary with these twotracks in the standard holstering device.

FIGS. 2 and 2A to C illustrate an embodiment of this principle. By wayof example, FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show different types of hand weapons112, 212 and 312. According to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2A to 2C, all these different types ofweapons 12, 112, 212, 312 are capable of being holstered in the samestandard holstering device 14; typically one at a time. Each of theweapons 12, 112, 212 and 312 has an adapter 15 interfacing with thestandard holstering device for such weapons 12, 112, 212 and 312. Whilesuch adapter may be the above mentioned slide structure 15, the adaptersfor the different types of weapons 12, 112, 212, 312 need not beidentical within the scope of the invention. By way of example, theadapter for the weapon 112 may be different from the adapter for theweapon 12, and so forth, as long as all adapters interface with thestandard holstering device 14.

Within the scope of the invention, any slide structure or adapter 15 maybe manufactured separately from the hand weapon and may be attached orretrofitted to such weapon, or may be provided as part of any of theweapons during manufacture of such weapon or weapons.

However, the slide or adapter structures 15 of the different types ofweapons 12, 112, 212, 312 all have to have some configuration that iscomplementary with essentials of the holstering device 14.

The holstering device 14 is the same for all of the different types ofweapons 12, 112, 212, 312. Where such holstering device has a trackstructure 13 comprising one or more rails or tracks 16 or 17, adapters15 will have a corresponding structure, such as shown at 18 and 19.Similarly, where such holstering device has a track structure 13comprising one or more grooves 23 or 24, adapters 15 will have acorresponding structure, such as shown at 21 and 22.

In this respect, if the track structure 13 of the holstering device 14has one or more rails or tracks 16 or 17, as well as one or more grooves23 or 24, then the adapters for the different types of weapons may forinstance all be configured with one or more groove structures 18 and 19and with one or more tongue structures 21 and 22, or adapters for someof the weapons 12, 112, 212, 312 may be provided with one or more groovestructures 18 and 19, while other adapters for these different types ofweapons may be provided one or more tongue structures 21 and 22 insteadof groove structures, with all such different adapters fitting into thesame standard holster 14 for a holstering of all such different types ofweapons.

So far, handguns have been mentioned as hand weapons. However, there areother hand weapons within the scope of the invention, including pepperspray and mace containers, knives or bayonets, intense light sources,high-voltage or stunning devices, etc. etc., that can be holstered by aholstering device 14 standard for different ones of such weapons.

According to embodiments of the invention, the track structure oradapter and the slide structure are provided with or include a detent28, 33 or 54 for releasably retaining or adapted to releasably retainsuch slide structure or adapter 15 at the track structure 13. In thismanner, the hand weapon 12 is secure against falling out of theholstering device 14, such as when the wearer rolls over or carries outsome jumping motion or engages in similar action.

By way of example, FIG. 1a shows a latching device or latch 29 which isprovided in the holstering structure 14, such as indicated by the arrow30 in FIGS. 1 and 1a. The detent 28 also has a notch 31 in the slidestructure or adapter 15 that corresponds with the latch 29. That latchmay, for instance, be a leaf spring that is attached to the holsteringdevice 14, such as by rivets 32, and that engages or is engaged by theslide structure or adapter 15 at its notch 31 when the hand weapon 12 isholstered in its holster 14.

Some applications and situations require greater safety against loss orremoval of the weapon from its holster. Law enforcement and militarypersonnel, for instance, are often exposed to situations in which lawbreakers or attackers attempt to take away, or even have succeeded intaking away, the hand weapon from its holster, frequently with theintent of injuring its wearer or of committing another crime or assaultwith the wrested away hand weapon.

Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides theholstering device and slide structure or adapter with a detent 33 or 54which releasably retains or which is adapted to releasably retain theslide structure or adapter 15 at the track structure 13 until a wearerof the holstered hand weapon 12 pulls that hand weapon from theholstering device or, in other words, until the holstered hand weapon ispulled from its holstering device 14 by the wearer of that holsteringdevice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, such as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7,provides the track structure 13 or other part of the holstering device14, and the slide structure or adapter 15 with a detent 33 forreleasably retaining such slide structure or adapter at that trackstructure against removal of the holstered hand weapon 12 from itsholstering device 14, and, more specifically, provides such detent witha device 34 for sensing a presence of a part of a hand 51 of a wearer ofthe holstered hand weapon at a predetermined location at that holsteringdevice 14 and deactivates that detent in response to such presence ofthat part of the hand 51 at that predetermined location 36.

By way of example, the wearer-hand-sensing device 34 includes a lever 37that is pivoted, such as at 38. The lever 37 carries or is coupled to alatching device or latch 39 that is biased against the slide or adapterstructure 15 on the hand weapon 12, such as by a spring 41. In additionto such latch 39, the detent 33 includes a notch 42 in the slidestructure 15 that corresponds to the latch 39.

Within the scope of the invention, the biased latch 39 may engage theslide structure or adapter 15 at its notch 42 when the hand weapon isholstered in its holster 14. An assailant thus would be prevented frompulling the hand weapon 12 from its holster 14, as such assailant wouldhave to move the lever 37 effectively while pulling the hand weapon 12out of its holster 14, all against the will and the resistance of thewearer of the hand weapon.

On the other hand, if the wearer of the holstered hand weapon intends todraw such hand weapon 12 from its holster 14, then such wearer grips thehandle or stock 43 of the hand weapon with one hand 51, such as the "gunhand" in the case of a handgun. Simultaneously, the wearer places theside of that one hand 51 along the index finger or trigger finger 52against the hand sensor 34, thereby pushing or angularly moving thelever 37 about its pivot 38 until the latch 39 is disengaged from thenotch 42 in the slide or adapter structure 15. This enables the wearerto draw the weapon 12 without fumbling with leather straps or otherprior-art security device which impede a fast draw and thereby impairthe value of the weapon and the safety of its user.

A preferred embodiment of the invention even relieves the wearer fromany conscious action as far as the safety against unauthorized orviolent removal of the weapon from its holster is concerned.

In this respect, FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment according to whichthe latch 39 rest on an unnotched portion 40 of the slide or adapterstructure 15 when the weapon 12 is fully inserted in its holster 14.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention, gripping the weapon 12 atits handle or grip 43 automatically prevents the security system 33 fromlocking the weapon in its holster. The marksman or authorized user candraw the weapon 12 as fast as if no safety 33 were present, with thelatch 39 clearing the slide or adapter 15 including its notch 42 all theway, as the side of the user's hand 51 along the index finger or triggerfinger 52 slides along the lever 37 at its hand sensor portion 34.

This preferred embodiment of the invention requires no action by theweapon user or shooter other than what shooters always have done indrawing a handgun; namely having the trigger finger 52 outstretcheddownward outside the holster during the draw for insertion of thattrigger finger into the trigger guard area 45 as that trigger finger isbent for actuation of the trigger 46 and possible firing of the weapon.

In this respect and in general, an aspect of the invention resides in amethod of holstering an elongate hand weapon 12 and, more specifically,resides in the improvement of providing a holstering device 14,holstering the hand weapon in that holstering device, drawing the handweapon from that holstering device with a hand 51 having an outstretchedfinger 52, and blocking removal of the hand weapon from the holsteringdevice upon attempts to remove the hand weapon from the holsteringdevice without the hand having the outstretched finger 52.

An embodiment of the invention provides a method which includesproviding the elongate hand weapon 12 and the holstering device 14 witha normally deactivated detent 33 or 39 and 42 at 15 for selectivelyretaining the hand weapon in the holstering device, and activating suchdetent only upon attempts to remove the hand weapon from the holsteringdevice without the hand 51 having the outstretched finger 52.

Apparatus within the scope of the currently disclosed aspect of theinvention for holstering an elongate hand weapon 12, comprise aholstering device 14 for such hand weapon, and a detent 33 or 39 and 42at 15 adapted to block removal of the hand weapon from the holsteringdevice upon attempts to remove such hand weapon from that holsteringdevice without a hand 51 having a finger 52 outstretched substantiallyparallel to the elongate hand weapon 12.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, thedetent is a normally deactivated detent, such as the detent 39 restingon the unnotched portion 40 of the slide structure or adapter 15 whenthe weapon 12 is seated in its holster 14. However, such normallydeactivated detent is capable of selectively retaining, or is adapted toselectively retain, the hand weapon in its holstering device. In thisrespect, a detent activator, such as shown at 41, is adapted to activatethe detent only upon attempts to remove the hand weapon from theholstering device without the hand 51 having the outstretched finger 52,such as by prompting the detent 39 into the notch 42 when the triggerfinger portion of the wearer is missing at the lever or sensor 34 in thearea 36.

In this respect, FIG. 5 shows the hand 151 of an assailant whose effortto remove the weapon from the holster is frustrated by the safetymechanism 33.

Within the scope of that aspect of the invention, the holstering device14 again may be provided with a track structure 13, and the elongatehand weapon 12 is then provided with a slide structure or adapter 15complementary with that track structure for holstering such slidestructure or adapter in the track structure while holstering theelongate hand weapon in the holstering device 14. Moreover, use ofsafety mechanisms according to aspects of the subject invention is notlimited to specific track and slide or adapter structures.

By way of further example, such as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, detent 54 mayreleasably retain or may be adapted to releasably retain the slidestructure or adapter 15 at the track structure 13 until a wearer of theholstered hand weapon 12 angularly moves that hand weapon and the trackstructure 13.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the detent 54 isdeactivated such as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 by angular movement of theelongate hand weapon 12 and track structure 13.

For instance, according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10,a holstering device 114 includes an angularly moveable portion 56 and arelatively stationary portion 57. By way of example, the holster portion56 may be pivoted at 58 on the portion 57. A slot and pin arrangement,including a pin 59 and an arcuate slot 60, may be used to limit angularmovement or tilt of the hand weapon 12 and holster portion 56, from andbetween a rest position, such as shown in FIG. 8, in which the holsterprotion 56 may be held by a spring 61, to a position, such as seen inFIG. 10 in solid outline, which is fully tilted against the bias of thespring 61.

The track structure 13 is on the angularly moveable portion 57. A detent54 is on the relatively stationary portion 57, and is positioned toengage the slide structure 15 when the hand weapon 12 is in thatholstering device 114 prior to angular movement of the angularlymoveable portion 56 with the hand weapon 12 relative to the stationaryportion 57. The detent or latch 54 may engage the slide portion 15 ofthe hand weapon 12 at its notch 42, or at its upper end 115 (see FIG. 4)or in any other manner that will retain or block the weapon 12 in itsholster 114 against forcible removal.

Within the scope of the invention, the slide structure 15 could simplybe removed from the detent 54 as the hand weapon 12 and the trackstructure 13 and angularly moveable holster portion 56 which it engagesare angularly moved prepratory to a draw of the hand weapon 12 from itsholster 114.

However, for greater safety, the illustrated embodiment provides adetent deactivator 62 on the angularly moveable portion 56 of theholstering device 114. The detent 54 is located in a path of angularmovement of such detent deactivator 59 which is on the angularlymoveable portion 56. By way of example, the detent 54 may be resilientlymounted, such as by a leaf spring 63 attached to the stationary portion57. Such resiliently mounted detent 54 may, for instance, projectthrough an aperture 64 in the angularly moveable portion 56 to engagethe slide structure 15 when the weapon 12 and its track structure 13 andangularly moveable holster portion 56 are in their rest position seen inFIG. 8 relative to FIG. 9.

The above mentioned detent deactivator 59 may, for instance, be an edgeregion 65 of the angularly moveable portion 56 at its aperture 64.

When the wearer of the holstered weapon 12 angularly moves the same,such as with his or her gun hand, so that the moveable holster portion56 is angularly moved about its pivot 58, the detent deactivator edge 65of the aperture 64 slides past the detent 54, thereby moving such detentout of the path of the angularly moving weapon 12 and slide portion 15,such as against the bias of the spring 63.

The weapon 12 may thus easily be pulled out of the holstering devicewith the gun hand. On the other hand, it would be difficult for anassailant to pull the weapon from the modified holster, especially sincethe wearer of the holstered weapon would not just stand by idly, whilean assailant is working on his or her gun.

The adapter or slide structure 15 of or on the hand weapon may beuniversal for different types of holstering devices, such as for theholstering devices 14 and 114 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 2A to C, 3, and 5 to10.

An overall method according to this aspect of the invention may providethe track structure 13 and slide structure 15 with a detent 33 forreleasably retaining that slide structure at that track structureagainst removal of the holstered hand weapon 12 from the holsteringdevice 14. Such detent may be provided with a device 34 for sensing apresence of a part of a hand 51 of a wearer of the holstered hand weaponat a predetermined location 36 at the holstering device 14. The detent33 may be or may remain deactivated in response to that presence of thatpart of said hand 51, such as of an outstretched index finger, atpredetermined location 36, such as described above in conjunction withFIGS. 5 to 7.

This overall method according to the currently disclosed aspect of theinvention also provides the holstering device 114 of FIGS. 8 to 10 as analternative holstering device, and provides such alternative holsteringdevice 114 with an alternative track structure which is complementarywith the slide structure 15, and which may be similar or identical tothe track structure 13, variations of which have been disclosed above.This method also provides the alternatvie holstering device 114 with analternative detent 54 releasably retaining the slide structure 15 at thealternative track structure until a wearer of the holstered hand weaponangularly moves the hand weapon 12 and the alternative track structure13, such as described above in conjunction with FIGS. 8 to 10 withrespect to the angularly moveable holster portion 56.

An overall system as embodied in FIGS. 1, 2, 2A to C, 3, and 5 to 10 mayinclude a detent 33 adapted to releasably retain a universal slidestructure 15 at track structure 13 against removal of the holstered handweapon 12 from holstering device 14. Such detent may include a device 34adapted to sense a presence of a part of a hand 57 of a wearer of theholstered hand weapon at a predetermined location 36 at holsteringdevice 44, and a device 37 with or without 40, adapted to deactivatedetent 33 in response to presence of part of hand 51 at predeterminedlocation 36. An alternative holstering device 114 for hand weapons withlike slide structure 15 has an alternative track structure 13 in thatalternative holstering device 114 complementary with such slidestructure 14 and an alternative detent 54 adapted to releasably retainsuch slide structure 15 at its alternative track structure until awearer of the holstered hand weapon angularly moves such hand weapon andthe track structure 13 which at this point is designated as alternative,even though the track structure 13 of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1,2, 2A to C, 3, and 5 to 10 may be identical within the scope of theinvention.

Hand weapon users thus are able to chose between different holsteringsystems.

Different people have different preferences, and the same people havedifferent preferences for different tasks. For instance, where levers ofthe type shown at 37 in FIGS. 5 to 7 are disfavored, people likely wouldopt for the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10 that affords safety againstviolent hand weapon removal while requiring less of a conscious effortof the wearer to remove the weapon from its holster than do prior-artsafety systems.

True professionals, however, likely will opt for the system exemplifiedin FIGS. 5 to 7, since that permits drawing of the hand weapon 12without conscious effort as far as the detent 33 against violent removalis concerned. Especially where the detent 33 is uncocked by the upperslide portion 40 and remains uncocked during the entire draw by nothingmore than the wearer's gun hand 51, the wearer does not have to doanything that he or she does not do already during the draw; namely,stretch down his or her trigger finger 52 ready for insertion into thetrigger area 45 as soon as the weapon 12 is out of the holster.

The same person, police department or agency may, however, own orpossess two or more of the embodiments herein disclosed, for differenttasks or situations.

By way of example, the holstering device 14 may be worn on a belt 47and, for that purpose, may be provided with or may include a belt loopstructure 48 that may be attached to or integral with the holsterproper. However, the part 47 also may be symbolic of waist band andshoulder straps, and the like, within the scope of the invention.

Moreover, the subject extensive disclosure will render apparent orsuggest to those skilled in the art various modifications and variationswithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. In a method of holstering an elongate hand weapon, theimprovement comprising in combination:making a track structure; formingsaid track structure as a holstering device for said elongate handweapon; equipping said elongate hand weapon with an adaptercomplementary with said track structure for holstering said adapter insaid track structure while holstering said elongate hand weapon in saidholstering device; making said adapter integral with said elongate handweapon as distinguished from said holstering device, so that saidadapter is removed with said elongate hand weapon from said holsteringdevice when said hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device; andequipping said holstering device and said adapter with a detentreleasably retaining said adapter at said track structure.
 2. A methodas in claim 1, wherein:an accessory for said hand weapon is mounted onsaid adapter.
 3. A method as in claim 2, wherein:said accessory is atarget illumination light for said hand weapon.
 4. In a method ofholstering an elongate hand weapon in a holstering device having a trackstructure, the improvement comprising in combination:equipping saidelongate hand weapon with an adapter complementary with said trackstructure for holstering said adapter in said track structure whileholstering said elongate hand weapon in said holstering device; makingsaid adapter integral with said elongate hand weapon as distinguishedfrom said holstering device, so that said adapter is removed with saidelongate hand weapon from said holstering device when said hand weaponis drawn from said holstering device; and equipping said holsteringdevice and said adapter with a detent releasably retaining said adapterat said track structure.
 5. A method as in claim 4, wherein:said trackstructure is provided with two tracks in said holstering device; andsaid adapter is provided with two slides complementary with said twotracks.
 6. A method as in claim 4, wherein:said track structure and saidadapter are shaped as a tongue and groove combination including a tonguestructure as one of said track structure and said adapter, and a groovestructure as the other of said track structure and said adapter.
 7. Amethod as in claim 4, wherein:said holstering device is open along oneside thereof.
 8. A method as in claim 4, including:releasably retainingsaid adapter at said track structure until a wearer of the holsteredhand weapon pulls said hand weapon from said holstering device.
 9. Amethod as in claim 4, including:manually deactivating said detent atsaid holstering device.
 10. A method as in claim 4, including:equippingsaid detent with a device for sensing a presence of a part of a hand ofa wearer of the holstered hand weapon at a predetermined location atsaid holstering device; and deactivating said detent in response to saidpresence of said part of said hand at said predetermined location.
 11. Amethod as in claim 4, wherein:said detent is deactivated as long as saidhand weapon is in said holstering device; said detent remainsdeactivated by presence of part of a hand of a wearer drawing said handweapon from said holstering device; and said detent becomes activatedfor retaining said hand weapon in said holstering device upon attemptsto remove said hand weapon from said holstering device in the absence ofsaid part of a hand of a wearer drawing said hand weapon.
 12. A methodas in claim 4, including:releasably retaining said adapter at said trackstructure with said detent until a wearer of the holstered hand weaponangularly moves said hand weapon and said track structure.
 13. A methodas in claim 4, including:deactivating said detent by angular movement ofsaid elongate hand weapon and said track structure.
 14. A method as inclaim 4, including:equipping said detent with a device for sensing apresence of a part of a hand of a wearer of the holstered hand weapon ata predetermined location at said holstering device; deactivating saiddetent in response to said presence of said part of said hand at saidpredetermined location; making an alternative holstering device;equipping said alternative holstering device with an alternative trackstructure complementary with said adapter; and equipping saidalternative holstering device with an alternative detent releasablyretaining said adapter at said alternative track structure until awearer of the holstered hand weapon angularly moves said hand weapon andsaid alternative track structure.
 15. In a method of holstering anelongate hand weapon in a holstering device having a track structure,the improvement comprising:equipping said elongate hand weapon with anadapter complementary with said track structure for holstering saidadapter in said track structure while holstering said elongate handweapon in said holstering device; making said adapter integral with saidelongate hand weapon as distinguished from said holstering device, sothat said adapter is removed with said elongate hand weapon from saidholstering device when said hand weapon is drawn from said holsteringdevice; drawing said hand weapon from said holstering device with a handhaving an outstretched finger; and blocking removal of said hand weaponfrom said holstering device upon attempts to remove said hand weaponfrom said holstering device without said hand having said outstretchedfinger.
 16. In a method of holstering any one of a number of differenttypes of elongate hand weapons, the improvement comprising incombination:making a standard holstering device for said different typesof elongate hand weapons; equipping each of said different types ofelongate hand weapons with an adapter interfacing with said standardholstering device for said different types of elongate hand weapons;making each adapter integral with a corresponding elongate hand weaponas distinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter isremoved with that elongate hand weapon from the holstering device whenthat hand weapon is drawn from the holstering device; and equipping saidstandard holstering device and each adapter with a detent releasablyretaining each adapter.
 17. In a method of holstering an elongate handweapon; the improvement comprising in combination:making a holsteringdevice; holstering said hand weapon in said holstering device; equippingsaid elongate hand weapon and said holstering device with a normallydeactivated detent for selectively retaining said hand weapon in saidholstering device; drawing said hand weapon from said holstering devicewith a hand having an outstretched finger; and blocking removal of saidhand weapon from said holstering device upon attempts to remove saidhand weapon from said holstering device without said hand having saidoutstretched finger substantially parallel to said elongate hand weaponby activating said detent only upon attempts to remove said hand weaponfrom said holstering device without said hand having said outstretchedfinger substantially parallel to said elongate hand weapon.
 18. A methodas in claim 17, including:equipping said holstering device with a trackstructure; and equipping said elongate hand weapon with a slidestructure complementary with said track structure for holstering saidslide structure in said track structure while holstering said elongatehand weapon in said holstering device; and making said slide structureintegral with said elongate hand weapon as distinguished from saidholstering device, so that said slide structure is removed with saidelongate hand weapon from said holstering device when said hand weaponis drawn from said holstering device.
 19. In a method of holstering anelongate hand weapon in a holstering device having a track structure,the improvement comprising in combination:equipping said elongate handweapon with a slide structure complementary with said track structurefor holstering said slide structure in said track structure whileholstering said elongate hand weapon in said holstering device; makingsaid slide structure integral with said elongate hand weapon asdistinguished from said holstering device, so that said slide structureis removed with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering devicewhen said hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device; equippingsaid holstering device and said slide structure with a detent forreleasably retaining said slide structure at said track structureagainst removal of the holstered hand weapon from said holsteringdevice; said detent being deactivated as long as said hand weapon is insaid holstering device; said detent remaining deactivated by presence ofpart of a hand of a wearer drawing said hand weapon from said holsteringdevice; and said detent becoming activated for retaining said handweapon in said holstering device upon attempts to remove said handweapon from said holstering device in the absence of said part of a handof a wearer drawing said hand weapon.
 20. A method as in claim 19,including:drawing said hand weapon from said holstering device with ahand having an outstretched finger; and blocking removal of said handweapon from said holstering device upon attempts to remove said handweapon from said holstering device without said hand having saidoutstretched finger.
 21. In a method of holstering an elongate handweapon in a holstering device having a track structure, said hand weaponhaving an accessory exteriorily attached to a part of said hand weapon,the improvement comprising in combination:equipping said holsteringdevice with an accommodation for said accessory; equipping said elongatehand weapon with an adapter complementary with said track structure forholstering said adapter in said track structure while holstering saidelongate hand weapon in said holstering device; and making said adapterintegral with said elongate hand weapon as distinguished from saidholstering device, so that said adapter is removed with said elongatehand weapon from said holstering device when said hand weapon is drawnfrom said holstering device.
 22. A method as in claim 21, wherein:saidadapter equipped with a mount for said accessory for said hand weapon.23. A method as in claim 21, including:equipping said holstering deviceand said adapter with a detent releasably retaining said adapter at saidtrack structure.
 24. A method as in claim 21, wherein:said accessory forsaid hand weapon is attached to said adapter by a dovetail structure.25. In a method of holstering an elongate hand weapon having an adapterfor holstering said elongate hand weapon in a holstering device, andhaving an accessory exteriorily attached to and part of said handweapon, the improvement comprising in combination:equipping saidholstering device with a track structure complementary with said adapterfor holstering said adapter in said track structure while holsteringsaid elongate hand weapon in said holstering device; said adapter beingintegral with said elongate hand weapon as distinguished from saidholstering device, so that said adapter is removed with said elongatehand weapon from said holstering device when said hand weapon is drawnfrom said holstering device; and equipping said holstering device withan accommodation for said accessory.
 26. A method as in claim 25,wherein:said track structure and said adapter are shaped as a tongue andgroove combination including a tongue structure as one of said trackstructure and said adapter, and a groove structure as the other of saidtrack structure and said adapter.
 27. A method as in claim 25,wherein:said holstering device is open along one side thereof.
 28. Inapparatus for holstering an elongate hand weapon, the improvementcomprising in combination:a track structure; a holstering device forsaid elongate hand weapon including said track structure; and an adapterfor said elongate hand weapon complementary with said track structureand removable with said elongate hand weapon from said holsteringdevice, said adapter being integral with said elongate hand weapon asdistinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter isremoved with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device whensaid hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device; and a detentadapted to releasably retain said adapter at said track structure untila wearer of the holstered hand weapon pulls said hand weapon from saidholstering device.
 29. Apparatus as in claim 28, wherein:said trackstructure includes two tracks in said holstering device; and saidadapter is complementary with said two tracks in said holstering device.30. Apparatus as in claim 28, wherein:said track structure and saidadapter comprise a tongue and groove combination including a tonguestructure as one of said track structure and said adapter and a groovestructure as the other of said track structure and said adapter. 31.Apparatus as in claim 28, including:a mount for an accessory for saidhand weapon on said adapter.
 32. Apparatus as in claim 31, wherein:saidaccessory is a target illumination light for said hand weapon.
 33. Inapparatus for holstering an elongate hand weapon in a holstering deviceincluding a track structure, the improvement comprising:an adapter forsaid elongate hand weapon complementary with said track structure andremovable with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device,said adapter being integral with said elongate hand weapon asdistinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter isremoved with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device whensaid hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device; and a detentadapted to releasably retain said adapter at said track structure untila wearer of the holstered hand weapon pulls said hand weapon from saidholstering device.
 34. Apparatus as in claim 33, wherein:said trackstructure includes two tracks in said holstering device; and saidadapter is complementary with said two tracks in said holstering device.35. Apparatus as in claim 33, wherein:said track structure and saidadapter comprise a tongue and groove combination including a tonguestructure as one of said track structure and said adapter and a groovestructure as the other of said track structure and said adapter. 36.Apparatus as in claim 33, including:a manually engageable detentdeactivator at said holstering device.
 37. Apparatus as in claim 33,wherein:said detent includes a device adapted to sense a presence of apart of a hand of a wearer of the holstered hand weapon at apredetermined location at said holstering device and a device adapted todeactivate said detent in response to said presence of said part of saidhand at said predetermined location.
 38. Apparatus as in claim 33,including:a first detent deactivator adapted to deactivate said detentas long as said hand weapon is in said holstering device; a seconddetent deactivator adapted to deactivate said detent in response to apresence of part of a hand of a wearer drawing said hand weapon fromsaid holstering device; and a detent activator adapted to activate saiddetent for retaining said hand weapon in said holstering device uponattempts to remove said hand weapon from said holstering device in theabsence of said part of a hand of a wearer drawing said hand weapon. 39.Apparatus as in claim 38 for a hand weapon that is drawn from saidholstering device with a hand having an outstretched finger,wherein:said detent activator includes a device adapted to block removalof said hand weapon from said holstering device upon attempts to removesaid hand weapon from said holstering device without said hand havingsaid outstretched finger.
 40. Apparatus as in claim 33, including:saiddetent adapted to releasably retain said adapter at said track structureuntil a wearer of the holstered hand weapon angularly moves said handweapon and said track structure.
 41. Apparatus as in claim 33,wherein:said holstering device includes an angularly moveable portionand a relatively stationary portion; said track structure on saidangularly moveable portion; and said detent on said relativelystationary portion positioned to engage said adapter when said handweapon is in said holstering device prior to angular movement of saidangularly moveable portion relative to said stationary portion. 42.Apparatus as in claim 33, wherein:said holstering device includes anangularly moveable portion and a relatively stationary portion; saidtrack structure is on said angularly moveable portion; said detent is onsaid relatively stationary portion positioned to engage said adapterwhen said hand weapon is in said holstering device; and a detentdeactivator on said angularly moveable portion of said holsteringdevice; said detent located in a path of angular movement of said detentdeactivator on said angularly moveable portion.
 43. Apparatus as inclaim 33, wherein:said detent includes a device adapted to sense apresence of a part of a hand of a wearer of the holstered hand weapon ata predetermined location at said holstering device and a device adaptedto deactivate said detent in response to said presence of said part ofsaid hand at said predetermined location; and said apparatus includes:analternative holstering device; an alternative track structure in saidalternative holstering device complementary with said adapter; and analternative detent adapted to releasably retain said adapter at saidalternative track structure until a wearer of the holstered hand weaponangularly moves said hand weapon and said alternative track structure.44. In apparatus for holstering an elongate hand weapon having anadapter for said elongate hand weapon, the improvement comprising incombination:a track structure complementary with said adapter; aholstering device for said elongate hand weapon including said trackstructure; said adapter removable with said elongate hand weapon fromsaid holstering device, said adapter being integral with said elongatehand weapon as distinguished from said holstering device, so that saidadapter is removed with said elongate hand weapon from said holsteringdevice when said hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device; and adetent adapted to releasably retain said adapter at said track structureuntil a wearer of the holstered hand weapon pulls said hand weapon fromsaid holstering device.
 45. Apparatus as in claim 44, wherein:said trackstructure includes two tracks in said holstering device; and saidadapter includes two slides complementary with said two tracks in saidholstering device.
 46. Apparatus as in claim 44, wherein:said trackstructure and said adapter comprise a tongue and groove combinationincluding a tongue structure as one of said track structure and saidadapter and a groove structure as the other of said track structure andsaid adapter.
 47. In apparatus for holstering any one of a number ofdifferent types of elongate hand weapons, the improvement comprising incombination:a standard holstering device for said different types ofelongate hand weapons; for each of said different types of elongate handweapons an adapter interfacing with said standard holstering device forsaid different types of elongate hand weapons and removable with theelongate hand weapon from said holstering device, each adapter beingintegral with a corresponding elongate hand weapon as distinguished fromsaid holstering device, so that that adapter is removed with thatelongate hand weapon from said holstering device when that hand weaponis drawn from said holstering device; a track structure in said standardholstering device; each adapter being complementary with said trackstructure in said standard holstering device; and a detent adapted toreleasably retain said adapter at said track structure until a wearer ofthe holstered hand weapon pulls said hand weapon from said holsteringdevice.
 48. Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein:said track structureincludes two tracks in said holstering device; said adapter beingcomplementary with said two tracks in said holstering device. 49.Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein:said track structure and said adaptercomprise a tongue and groove combination including a tongue structure asone of said track structure and said adapter and a groove structure asthe other of said track structure and said adapter.
 50. Apparatus as inclaim 47, including:a manually engageable detent deactivator at saidholstering device.
 51. Apparatus as in claim 47, including:said detentincluding a device adapted to sense a presence of a part of a hand of awearer of the holstered hand weapon at a predetermined location at saidholstering device and a device adapted to deactivate said detent inresponse to said presence of said part of said hand at saidpredetermined location.
 52. Apparatus as in claim 47, including:a firstdetent deactivator adapted to deactivate said detent as long as saidhand weapon is in said holstering device; a second detent deactivatoradapted to deactivate said detent in response to a presence of part of ahand of a wearer drawing said hand weapon from said holstering device;and a detent activator adapted to activate said detent for retainingsaid hand weapon in said holstering device upon attempts to remove saidhand weapon from said holstering device in the absence of said part of ahand of a wearer drawing said hand weapon.
 53. Apparatus as in claim 52for a hand weapon that is drawn from said holstering device with a handhaving an outstretched finger, wherein:said detent activator includes adevice adapted to block removal of said hand weapon from said holsteringdevice upon attempts to remove said hand weapon from said holsteringdevice without said hand having said outstretched finger.
 54. Apparatusas in claim 47, including:said detent adapted to releasably retain saidadapter at said track structure until a wearer of the holstered handweapon angularly moves said hand weapon and said track structure. 55.Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein:said holstering device includes anangularly moveable portion and a relatively stationary portion; saidtrack structure on said angularly moveable portion; and said detent ison said relatively stationary portion positioned to engage said adapterwhen said hand weapon is in said holstering device prior to angularmovement of said angularly moveable portion relative to said stationaryportion.
 56. Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein:said holstering deviceincludes an angularly moveable portion and a relatively stationaryportion; said track structure on said angularly moveable portion; saiddetent is on said relatively stationary portion positioned to engagesaid adapter when said hand weapon is in said holstering device; and adetent deactivator is on said angularly moveable portion of saidholstering device; said detent located in a path of angular movement ofsaid detent deactivator on said angularly moveable portion. 57.Apparatus as in claim 47, including:said detent adapted to releasablyretain said adapter at said track structure against removal of theholstered hand weapon from said holstering device; said detent includinga device adapted to sense a presence of a part of a hand of a wearer ofthe holstered hand weapon at a predetermined location at said holsteringdevice and a device adapted to deactivate said detent in response tosaid presence of said part of said hand at said predetermined location;an alternative holstering device; an alternative track structure in saidalternative holstering device complementary with said adapter; and analternative detent adapted to releasably retain said adapter at saidalternative track structure until a wearer of the holstered hand weaponangularly moves said hand weapon and said alternative track structure.58. In apparatus for holstering an elongate hand weapon, the improvementcomprising in combination:a holstering device for said hand weapon; anormally deactivated detent adapted to block removal of said hand weaponfrom said holstering device by selectively retaining said hand weapon insaid holstering device; and a detent activator adapted to activate saiddetent only upon attempts to remove said hand weapon from saidholstering device without a hand having a finger outstretchedsubstantially parallel to said elongate hand weapon.
 59. In apparatusfor holstering an elongate hand weapon, the improvement comprising incombination:a holstering device for said hand weapon; a track structurein said holstering device for said elongate hand weapon; an adapter forsaid elongate hand weapon complementary with said track structure andremovable with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device,said adapter being integral with said elongate hand weapon asdistinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter isremoved with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device whensaid hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device; and a detentadapted to block removal of said hand weapon from said holstering deviceupon attempts to remove said hand weapon from said holstering devicewithout a hand having a finger outstretched substantially parallel tosaid elongate hand weapon.
 60. Apparatus as in claim 59, wherein:saidtrack structure includes two tracks in said holstering device; and saidadapter is complementary with said two tracks in said holstering device.61. Apparatus as in claim 59, wherein:said track structure and saidadapter comprise a tongue and groove combination including a tonguestructure as one of said track structure and said adapter and a groovestructure as the other of said track structure and said adapter.
 62. Inapparatus for holstering an elongate hand weapon in a holstering deviceincluding a track structure, the improvement comprising in combination:aslide structure for said elongate hand weapon complementary with saidtrack structure and removable with said elongate hand weapon from saidholstering device, said slide structure being integral with saidelongate hand weapon as distinguished from said holstering device, sothat said slide structure is removed with said elongate hand weapon fromsaid holstering device when said hand weapon is drawn from saidholstering device; a detent adapted to releasably retain said slidestructure at said track structure against removal of the holstered handweapon from said holstering device; a first detent deactivator adaptedto deactivate said detent as long as said hand weapon is in saidholstering device; a second detent deactivator adapted to deactivatesaid detent in response to a presence of part of a hand of a wearerdrawing said hand weapon from said holstering device; and a detentactivator adapted to activate said detent for retaining said hand weaponin said holstering device upon attempts to remove said hand weapon fromsaid holstering device in the absence of said part of a hand of a wearerdrawing said hand weapon.
 63. In apparatus for holstering an elongatehand weapon in a holstering device including a track structure, theimprovement comprising in combination:a slide structure for saidelongate hand weapon complementary with said track structure andremovable with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device,said slide structure being integral with said elongate hand weapon asdistinguished from said holstering device, so that said slide structureis removed with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering devicewhen said hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device; saidholstering device including an angularly moveable portion and arelatively stationary portion; said track structure being on saidangularly moveable portion; and a detent on said relatively stationaryportion positioned to engage said slide structure when said hand weaponis in said holstering device prior to angular movement of said angularlymoveable portion relative to said stationary portion.
 64. Apparatus asin claim 63, including:a detent deactivator on said angularly moveableportion of said holstering device; said detent located in a path ofangular movement of said detent deactivator on said angularly moveableportion.
 65. In apparatus for holstering an elongate hand weapon in aholstering device including a track structure, said hand weapon havingan exterior accessory, the improvement comprising:an adapter for saidelongate hand weapon complementary with said track structure andremovable with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device,said adapter being integral with said elongate hand weapon asdistinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter isremoved with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device whensaid hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device; said holsteringdevice including an accommodation for said accessory.
 66. Apparatus asin claim 65, wherein:said holstering device is open along one sidethereof.
 67. Apparatus as in claim 65, wherein:said adapter has a mountfor said accessory for said hand weapon.
 68. Apparatus as in claim 65,including:a detent adapted to releasably retain said adapter at saidtrack structure.
 69. Apparatus as in claim 65,a detent adapted toreleasably retain said adapter at said track structure until a wearer ofthe holstered hand weapon pulls said hand weapon from said holsteringdevice.
 70. Apparatus as in claim 65, including:a dovetail structurebetween said accessory and said adapter.